This is the mid-point of my project to replace my ordinary concrete drive with permeable paving
The cement was mighty cracked, as my biggest tree asserted its authority with a couple of surface roots that just coincidently diverted some of the runoff away from the stormdrain into itself. I can respect that, but it looked awful. Also a lot of the water still went into the stormdrain, which is a problem around here because they overflow. Permeable pavers let the water soak into the ground where it flows slowly through the network of underground creeks and eventually into the Sound.
With the absolutely essential help of my pal Izzy and a rented jackhammer, the cement got converted into "urbanite" - concrete chunks useful for making raised beds. That's the stuff to the left of the Little Free Library (red newspaper box from an extinct paper); eventually it'll be the back garden by the new fence.
In the picture, the further pile of gravel when spread out will provide a firm foundation for the pavers, which are plastic arrays strong enough to bear the weight of a car. Then the near pile of gravel gets shoveled to fill the empty spaces in the pavers, and leveled over all. It's ready for use but wait! The vinca minora, beach strawberry, and other low-growing greenery will begin the slow process of converting the drive to their own use over maybe the course of a decade. I'll wait.
It is one more step on making my home more sustainable.
And THAT's why this picture is beautiful to me!
No comments:
Post a Comment